Eric Perez, assistant principal Nashville High School
It’s a word that means different things to different people. To some, it means being in charge; to others, it means setting the course for a group or organization; and to others, it means being at the forefront.
To Eric Perez, however, it means just one thing – setting a positive example for the young people at Nashville High School.
“My heart is to do what’s best for the kids,” said Perez, who is the assistant principal at Nashville High School and a 2021 graduate of Southern Arkansas University. “I try to connect more with the kids. I want them to know that I’m here to help them succeed and not just reprimand them when something goes wrong.”
As a native of Nashville, Perez understands the students in the school district and some of the struggles they face.
Perez grew up in Nashville. When he was nine, Perez was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Cornelio and Meghann Perez. He was always active in school, especially in sports. Perez played football and ran track from seventh through twelfth grade for the Scrappers. He also played basketball for one year.
After graduating from Nashville High School in 2014, Perez continued to combine athletics with his education while attending SAU, running on both the track team and the cross-country team for two years. He said that participating in sports was a significant factor in helping him achieve success in college.
“It allowed me to immediately make friends who were going to be my teammates,” said Perez, who also found being an athlete at SAU was more than just participating on the field. “We would do outreach in the community, events like the Blossom Festival. They would send athletes from every sports program. We would meet kids from the community, and we would go to the animal shelter in Magnolia and volunteer there as well.”
Perez intended to become a coach once after finishing his degree. It was through his major that he met his advisor, Dr. Jingyang Huang, associate professor of human performance and sports sciences.
“My advisor, Dr. Huang, was like a father figure to me. He will still text me from time to time. He is not the only professor to do that. It’s the connections you make from one person to another that makes SAU special,” said Perez.
He later changed his major to education and planned to teach in the public schools. Perez knew immediately that he had made the right choice. “When I started majoring in education, I felt more of a passion for my assignments,” added Perez.
After a brief break from SAU, Perez returned to SAU in the spring of 2019. Two years later, he completed his degree. He began his teaching career at De Queen, where he taught middle school science and served as an assistant coach in both football and soccer.
Perez returned to his alma mater in Nashville in the fall of 2022, where he taught 11th-grade U.S. History, served as head coach of the boys’ soccer team, and was an assistant football coach, working with the wide receivers.
He earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from SAU in 2023. He hopes to continue his education at SAU in the future by pursuing the Ed.D. program.
“When they introduced the Ed.D. program, I got really excited,” said Perez.
Perez has had many mentors during his education and career. However, two of the biggest are both educators at Nashville High School – Brian and Amy Bearden. Both have been influential in Perez’s career, as he has pursued roles in teaching and now administration.
“I literally have Brian listed in my phone as Dad Bearden,” laughed Perez. “They were big influences on me. I enjoyed coaching with him [Brian], and Amy is one of my favorite teachers from when I was in school.”
Perez loved his time in the classroom. For him, moving from teaching to administration was not an easy decision. But, just as he did with his career choice in college, he let his passion lead him.
“For me, the biggest deciding factor was not only being able to influence more students but also being able to do that for the teachers and staff,” said Perez, who one day hopes to become a building principal someday.
“I think you’re able to have a broader impact on your community. However, my heart, as always, is to do what is best for the students.”
Perez is married to Suri Perez. The couple has two children – a son, Arlo, who is two, and a daughter, Remi, who is almost one year old.
About SAU:
SAU, located in Magnolia, Arkansas, provides students with a complete college experience in a caring environment of service, innovation, and community. With more than 100 degrees in four distinct colleges and the School of Graduate Studies, SAU initiates new degree programs to fit the needs of career and professional trends of today. As part of this commitment, SAU proudly offers the Next Step Guarantee program, ensuring that students receive the necessary resources, career guidance, and support to transition successfully from college to their chosen careers or graduate studies. To learn more about SAU, visit www.saumag.edu.
